Chevrolet is a pretty diverse auto brand when you look at it. Crossovers and SUVs, trucks, performance cars, sedans - they even have a couple of electric cars and a line of commercial vehicles. Is there anything they don’t make? Even if Chevy didn’t sell the American classics like the Camaro and Corvette, Chevrolet would be known for its larger vehicles, and the 2017 Tahoe is one of the best they’ve made so far. With the auto market heating up with SUV and crossover competition, making a vehicle as versatile and durable, and at an affordable price, the Tahoe is madness, but Chevrolet pulled it off.

Starting At

Performance

Engine

Only one engine powers the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe lineup, but it it’s built so well, there really isn’t a need for another option. Under the hood is a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine. That word, “EcoTec,” stands for three things - gasoline direct injection (GDI), multi-displacement system (MDS), and continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) technology.

Starting with GDI, it’s a form of fuel injection where the fuel is pressurized and injected straight into the combustion chamber of an engine’s cylinder. MDS systems are designed to conserve fuel by turning off half of an engine’s cylinders when driving at a steady speed, a.k.a. turning the Tahoe into a V4 if cruising at 65 mph on the highway. Plus, with CVVT, having an infinite number of valve times regardless of speed, improves the engine’s efficiency and performance. All of this ends up in an engine that generates 355 horsepower, 383 lb-ft of torque, and gets the best-in-class highway fuel economy of 23 mpg.

Driving and Handling

The Tahoe actually has two drivetrains, two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, but there are not a whole lot of changes between the two. The options to buyers are the Autotrac 2-speed active transfer case, or the Autotrac 4WD active transfer case, each belonging to the appropriate drivetrain. Anyone out there who likes to drive off-road already knows the blessings an active transfer case brings to a vehicle, but we’ll dig into that in a bit.

For the Chevrolet Tahoe, the active transfer case systems are actually designed for adverse road conditions versus going off-road, and here’s why - each system has several modes to handle various road conditions. The Autotrac 4WD active transfer case has three models - 2WD, automatic, and 4WD. This means the driver can lock into two-wheel drive or 4WD, or allow the transfer case to switch between the two, transferring torque to the front wheels if slippage is detected amongst the rear wheels. Similarly, the 2-speed active transfer case can do the same, but has a fourth position, 4WD low, for flat-towing behind another vehicle - an example would be those people who drive on the highway in an RV with their primary vehicle in tow.

Style

Exterior Features

Ever have trouble climbing into a large vehicle? It’s probably the main problem for your passengers too, and that’s why the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe comes standard with black assist steps. If looking for a little class, the Premier option comes with assist steps that retract when the doors close, as to not stick out at all times. Another standard feature - heated exterior mirrors. The option to upgrade to exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals is an option on the LT trim, standard on the Premier.

If you’re planning for adventure, or just enjoy the occasional breeze, the option to install a sunroof is available on the LT and Premier trims. Being a SUV, the Chevy Tahoe has a capacity of 94.7 cubic-feet for storage space, and luggage-rack side rails are a standard on all trims if you need the interior space. All that’s left is picking the wheels, with options from 18-inch aluminum to 22-inch 7-spoke silver.

Interior Features

Has your interest piqued with all of that interior space and cargo room? The 2017 Chevy Tahoe can sit up to nine people, but have a 60/40 split-folding second-row and a 60/40 third-row split-fold bench (LS and LT trims) for configuring seating arrangements and cargo storage. A front row 40/20/40 front split-bench is also available on the LS trim, for that old-school seating feel.

If looking for some convenience, automatic climate control is standard on all trims. The Tahoe Premier has heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats - and the option to upgrade to the latter is available on the Tahoe LT trim. In addition, steering wheel mounted audio controls make controlling the radio easy, another standard found on all Tahoe trims.

Technology

Entertainment

The sound systems found in the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe are as follows, in order of what trims they can be found in: a 6-speaker system, a Bose premium 9-speaker system, and a Bose Centerpoint surround sound premium 10-speaker system. If that wasn’t enough, the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system comes standard on all trims with an 8-inch color touchscreen, Bluetooth voice command, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. For a step up, get it with GPS navigation on the Premier trim (optional on the LT). For added entertainment for passengers, the option to install a rear seat Blu-Ray/DVD player is available on LT and Premier trims. All vehicles come with a wi-fi hotspot with 4G LTE internet.

All 2017 Chevrolet vehicles are covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 3-year/36,000-mile corrosion warranty, a 6-year/100,000-mile rust-through warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 2-year scheduled maintenance plan, and roadside assistance with courtesy transportation for 5 years or 60,000 miles.